Gian Mamuyac soars to the basket for Rain or Shine. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
The PBA All-Star Weekend, a staple of each season and one in all the ways the league connects to its fans outside of the metropolis, might be in limbo after the originally-slated event within the province of Davao was postponed because of “security concerns.”
Commissioner Willie Marcial said it’s working on finding a alternative site inside the following two to 3 weeks within the hope of salvaging the midseason classic, but admitted that it could be left with no selection to cancel the event if things can’t be sorted out.
“We took into consideration what’s best for everybody in deciding to postpone the All-Star Weekend,” Marcial said in Filipino during Wednesday’s doubleheader at Smart Araneta Coliseum that began with Rain or Shine beating the Arvin Tolentino-less NorthPort, 113-96.
Marcial didn’t go much into detail on the postponement, nevertheless it obviously stemmed from the political tensions that got here after former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested through a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Uncertainty surrounding the hosting in Mr. Duterte’s home province grew within the weeks that followed.
Visayas eyed
While Marcial will not be counting out the opportunity of canceling the annual event, which might only mark just the fourth time for the reason that All-Star was institutionalized in 1989, the league is working on a possible alternative site within the Visayas region if discussions go on the correct track.
Marcial didn’t disclose the possible recent venue, nevertheless it had previous experiences hosting the All-Star event.
“If things can’t be sorted out inside the following two weeks or after Holy Week, the All-Star Weekend will likely be canceled,” said Marcial.
The primary time the All-Star was not held was in 2002 while the 2020 and 2021 to 2022 editions never took place because of the pandemic. The spectacle returned in 2023 in Passi City, Iloilo, after the easing of lockdowns through the COVID-19 pandemic, while last yr’s edition was held in Bacolod City.
Meanwhile, coach Yeng Guiao is hoping that the victory over NorthPort can assist alleviate what might be the obstacle Rain or Shine will face within the Philippine Cup with veteran Beau Belga out because of vertigo and Keith Datu nursing an injured right calf.
The Elasto Painters, who bounced back after opening the conference with a loss to the NLEX Road Warriors, can be banking on rookie Caelan Tiongson and Santi Santillan to fill the void left by the 2 players.
Santillan contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds while Tiongson had 15 points, eight rebounds, 4 assists and two steals before engaging in a heated moment with NorthPort’s Sidney Onwubere late in the competition.
NorthPort fell to 1-1, equaling Rain or Shine’s win-loss slate, with Tolentino out because of an injured right hip flexor. INQ
